Planning our first trip up to BWCA, have a couple questions that are sort of fishing related. Total will be 4 people, Me, my girlfriend and my two kids 14 and 9. First question is about licenses; girlfriend does not want to fish herself, but if she is in the canoe with one of the kids who is fishing and I am in the other canoe, will she need a license to cover him?

Second is about fish per person. If we are hoping to have full fish meals, with beans and rice as a side, is one persons limit enough to feed 4? Thanks for any help or suggestions.

One limit per person should be plenty IMO.

According to the regs any youth under 16 doesn't need a license if accompanied by a parent or guardian that has a valid license. Sort of depends on what your definition of accompanied is? If you will fish as a group and always be together then I see no need for another license...if you plan to go your separate ways all day then that get's more tricky. I suspect the former so you should be fine.

This is all for a non-resident...if you are MN residents then the kids are fine either way.

T

If the child is under 16 he or she would not need a license. You alone could catch six walleye and that would be more than enough food. A couple decent northerns would also be enough as well.

quote OldHiker: "Planning our first trip up to BWCA, have a couple questions that are sort of fishing related. Total will be 4 people, Me, my girlfriend and my two kids 14 and 9. First question is about licenses; girlfriend does not want to fish herself, but if she is in the canoe with one of the kids who is fishing and I am in the other canoe, will she need a license to cover him?

Second is about fish per person. If we are hoping to have full fish meals, with beans and rice as a side, is one persons limit enough to feed 4? Thanks for any help or suggestions."

i feel compelled to say- DO NOT plan on having fish. Yes, absolutely have them if you catch them, but have full meals planned just in case. Getting skunked happens and having nothing to eat but knorr noodle packs sucks.

I know it sounds crazy, but this is like a top ten first time mistake.

Have fun and enjoy!

Grizzlyman; there was a much longer post that explained the kids are being encouraged to believe that if we don't catch fish we don't eat and are very excited about the challenge. With that said, the food bag is mine to pack, and yes there will be dehydrated meals for every night packed safely away.

quote OldHiker: "Planning our first trip up to BWCA, have a couple questions that are sort of fishing related. Total will be 4 people, Me, my girlfriend and my two kids 14 and 9. First question is about licenses; girlfriend does not want to fish herself, but if she is in the canoe with one of the kids who is fishing and I am in the other canoe, will she need a license to cover him?
Second is about fish per person. If we are hoping to have full fish meals, with beans and rice as a side, is one persons limit enough to feed 4? Thanks for any help or suggestions."

As a non resident, you can buy both kids a full year license for $6 each, which will entitle them to full limits of their own. Your license will cost $33 for a three day, $39 for a seven day license, OR you can buy a family year around license for $61, and will entitle everyone on it their own limit.

As TGO said...just spend the $61 for the family license and be done with worrying about it! Time spent in the BWCA is meant to relieve cares, not create them! Stop in and see TGO at his store and get some great fishing tips and gear!

I think it depends on your situation and how you plan to fish...If you are covered by your own license why spend the extra money on the kids?

Are you really going to keep 18 walleyes? Heck some people don't catch 18 walleyes in their whole trip :)

T

One fish feeds two people on my trips. Of course, beware of keeping too big a fish. An 18-inch walleye is perfect, as is a 20-inch pike.

I agree on your size suggestions Missmolly, also in Minnesota it is illegal to keep more than 1 walleye over 20 inches statewide, many lakes have more restrictive policies.

T

quote Indianafishin': "As TGO said...just spend the $61 for the family license and be done with worrying about it! Time spent in the BWCA is meant to relieve cares, not create them! Stop in and see TGO at his store and get some great fishing tips and gear!"

I'll second the suggestion. A family license might be the way to go.

It'll cost $10 more for the family license ($61), than a 7 day ($39) and two youth licenses ($6 each).
Also, your two children will be permanently in the Minnesota license system when they buy the youth license.
You MUST have the SSN of yourself and both children to purchase a license if first time buyers.

you might do a bit more research to see what happens if your wife is holding the fishing rod (if she doesn't have a license) and gets checked by a conservation officer.

quote Mocha: "you might do a bit more research to see what happens if your wife is holding the fishing rod (if she doesn't have a license) and gets checked by a conservation officer. "

It is perfectly legal in MN for an adult with no fishing license to help a child fish. They can assist with baiting, taking a fish off etc... Holding a rod does not constitute fishing. Before the DNR makes a bust/ticket they have observed what you are doing, usually from afar with binoculars. It is pretty obvious when someone is helping a child and someone is fishing themselves.

Straight from the MN fishing regs
"What if I’m helping a child fish?
If an adult is showing a child younger than 16 how to bait, cast, and remove fish, no license is needed. The child must hold the rod, set the hook and reel in the fish"

T

If she's holding the rod when a conservation officer drops by, she may have a problem-especially if he's new to the force.